Mountains are getting snow but just rain in town (along with sun). Full rainbow with partial double rainbow!
The Caldera boys and girls varsity teams made the Oregon state championships this year. Noah had a great race. Their team finished 8th in the state! He finished 3rd on his team (teams consist of 7 runners) 51st out of the top 94 runners in the state! A great finish for the season. We are so proud of him!!
Noah had a great districts race today and it was great that Lulu and Papa were there to see him race. Their team (caldera high school) made the state championships (2 top teams from the district make it to state). The other lady in the one photo is their teams head coach.
Lulu and papa were visiting and the weather was amazing this past weekend so so got out for some nice fall walking (including some shopping for the girls on Saturday).
While the girls shopped the boys walked Shevlin park on Saturday and Sunday we all went up to hike Todd lake in the cascades. (Big mountain in the background of some Todd lake photos is Mt Bachelor - the local ski mountain)
Todd Lake
Today there was a solar eclipse that had full coverage passing over Oregon. To get into the full path we only needed to drive a little over an hour south of Bend with our friends the Osters.
This one was a little different than the one we saw a few years back in Aug 2017. That one you could actually take your glasses off. Todays was known as a ring of fire where the moon passes in front but you can still see a glowing ring around the outside with the eclipse glasses. Note the theme music selected in the background in the video below:)
We went to the fort rock area. Oregon had a lot of cloud cover today but the clouds parted where we were just as the eclipse started.
After the eclipse we drove over to Fort Rock state park, ate breakfast and hiked around the formation.
Of interest last time we were at fort rock state park was May 2014. Take a look at how little Noah and Hunter are.
We were able to sneak in a quick weekend camping trip to Paulina lake and Little Crater Campground the second weekend of September. The weather was perfect early fall weather. Warm in the day and cool at night. Two nights of amazing sunsets as well.
Friday night.
Saturday Fun with friends
Saturday Sunset
Kelly and I along with Jenn (Kelly’s sister) and Dylan got away for a quick two day retreat to sisters staying at the five pines resort.
We hike along the Metolius to get out for some outdoor fun.
Last Christmas we went here for the first time to see a band but it was dark and winter. Kelly and I said we wanted to go back when the weather was nice. We went with our friends Ryan and Molly Oster to listen to music, with food and wine.
We just completed a super fun and leisurely 3 day raft trip on the lower Deschutes River, north of Bend putting in at Buckhollow (just outside of Maupin) and taking out at Mack’s Canyon. It was only about 20 miles making for shorter days on the river and lots of fun at camp. This trip was with the Lovejoy family as usual and the Starlings, (Chris, Hattie and their 3 girls) who we have known for years but never had the opportunity to boat together.
We drove north to Maupin and we were on the river around 10:30 on Friday morning.
Camp on night 1 (Friday)
Warm day so the river and the shade along the shore was greatly appreciated.
Starlings hosted dinner the first night. They served flatiron steaks, smashed pesto potatoes with a wedge salad. Chris is a great cook and the presentation was phenomenal.
Classic Donaldson/Lovejoy camp shenanigans.
As the trip was only 2 nights and 3 families, we hosted breakfast Saturday morning since there were only 2 dinner meals. We did up spicy sweet potato hash and scrambled eggs along with fruit salad and OJ + mimosas for the adults.
Camp night 2 (Saturday)
Saturday target was a camp that Chris (has done this stretch of river a number of times) said was the best site by far. We ended up getting the site and it did not disappoint. An A++ site for sure. Big sandy beach, rapids and a great eddy to swim in and park/launch boats. Lovejoys hosted dinner Saturday and made pulled pork tacos which were delish. Mark got things rolling early with the margaritas which made for a fun afternoon.
Sunday was a short 4 miles to the take out. A great weekend trip that was too short.
Amazing sunset tonight.
